Christianity, comprised of so many denominations, is the largest religion in the world. Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination followed by Protestantism and by the Orthodox Church. Each denomination has numerous sects under its umbrella and still, each sect is comprised of many more sub-sects and cults.
Historically speaking, the Christian religion originated from the church established by Jesus Christ more than two thousand years ago. The church grew and spread worldwide through the efforts of dedicated and hardworking apostles and missionaries. But in 1058, the church was divided into two, known in history as the “Great Schism”. The division of the church was due to the unsettled differences of church leaders in the east and on the west. The church on the western side of the Roman Empire was named the “Roman Catholic Church” situated in Rome while on the eastern side was called the” Eastern Orthodox Church” located in Constantinople (now Istanbul). Efforts to unite the church were futile because they never reunited since then.
In the 1500s, the Roman Catholic Church was once again divided through the so called Protestant Reformation. This event led to the so-called Western Schism. Since reformation within the church didn't materialized, numerous Christian denominations came to existence and never cease till then. These denominations were able to attract followers and were able to spread particularly in the New World where they seek refuge from religious persecution in the Old World.
Early Christian denominations also gained followers by using the issues on church leaders' malpractices, alleged false doctrines, selling of indulgences and simony. Later on, other dogmas were utilized by many Christian sects and subsects in order to gain followers from the largest Christian denomination in the world - the Roman Catholic Church. Here are some of these dogmas.
Whore of Babylon
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The Catholic Church denies other Christian denominations' claim that the Whore of Babylon is the Roman Catholic Church. The Whore of Babylon is one of several Christian allegorical figures of supreme evil mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. The Whore is associated with the Antichrist and the Beast of Revelation by connection with an equally allegorical kingdom. The Whore's apocalyptic downfall is prophesied to take place in the hands of the beast with seven heads and ten horns.
The Beast
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A belief shared by some Christian religious movements is the Beast of Revelation is the Pope but this had been officially rejected by the Roman Catholic Church. The Beast is a figure in the Book of Revelation, the last book of the New Testament. There are two beasts described in Revelations 13; the First Beast arises out of the sea, having seven heads and 10 horns. The Second (Lamb-like) Beast arises out of the earth, having the appearance of a lamb while speaking like a dragon. This Beast exercises authority on behalf of the first beast, causing the Earth-dwellers to make an image of the First Beast, and worship him. It is able to give life to this image so that it could speak and kill anyone who doesn't worship the First Beast. This Beast is later called “The False Prophet” (Rev. 16:13; Rev. 19:20; Rev. 20:10) and together with the Dragon and the First Beast forms the unholy trinity
Vicarius Filii Dei
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Some Christian denomination states that the pope's alleged title, Vicarius Filii Dei, Latin for Vicar of the Son of God, adds up to 666 which is one of several alternative numbers known as the “Number of the Beast” and these denominations also allegedly claimed that it is engraved on the Pope's tiara, a charge that has been proven false. Vicarius Filii Dei is a phrase used in the forged Donation of Constantine to refer to Saint Peter. It also features in the argument put forth by some Protestant groups who also identify the phrase with the “number of the beast” (666) from Book of Revelation and subsequently the Pope with Antichrist. There is a papal title in existence that means the same: “Vicarius Iesu Christi” or Vicar of Christ. This title as it is used does not fit the system that calculates 666 out of the Latin words. The Catholic Church also declared that Vicarius Filii Dei has never been an “official title” of the pope.
Number of the Beast
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The Number of the Beast is a concept from the Book of Revelation of the New Testament of the Christian Bible being utilized by other Christian denomination to discredit the Roman Catholic Church. The Number is 666 in most manuscripts of the New Testament, and in modern translations and critical editions of the Greek text. However, there is some doubt about the original reading, as modern studies have shown that the earliest known manuscript of the Book of Revelation, Papyrus 15, (from the 3rd century) used 616. This topic is a source of contention for many church groups and theologians. Some scholars contend that the number 666 is a code for the Roman Emperor Nero, others that 616 is a code for the Roman Emperor Caligula.
The Roman Catholic answers also rejects other Christian denominations' doctrines of apostasy within the Catholic Church and does not consider the verses used to support the doctrine of these denominations being prophesied nor the apostasy of the Catholic Church are used in the right context. It contends that other verses are difficult to reconcile with the views of these sects specifically of the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ).
An appeal to everyone; let's not discredit others in our effort to convince or convert others to join our group. That's not a good attitude of a true Christian, it's not being fair. After all, we believe in one God so there's no need to discredit each other.
